By: EatingWell
Photographer: Burris, Ken
Publish Date: 2008-11-01
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings, 3 ounces each, plus plenty of leftovers
Total Time: 3 1/2 hours
Prep Time: 30 minutes
To Make Ahead: Equipment: Large roasting pan, roasting rack, kitchen string, thermometer
Recipe Description:
This method produces all the good looks and moist flavor you dream of in a Thanksgiving turkey. Make sure you show this beauty off at the table before you carve it. Garnish your serving platter with fresh herb sprigs and citrus wedges.
Recipe Ingredients:
- 1 10-12-pound turkey
- 1/4 cup fresh herbs, plus 20 whole sprigs, such as thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano and/or marjoram, divided
- 2 tablespoons canola, oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- Aromatics, onion, apple, lemon and/or orange, cut into 2-inch pieces (1 1/2 cups)
- 3 cups water, plus more as needed
Recipe Steps:
- Position a rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat to 475°F.
- Remove giblets and neck from turkey cavities and reserve for making gravy. Place the turkey, breast-side up, on a rack in a large roasting pan; pat dry with paper towels. Mix minced herbs, oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the herb mixture all over the turkey, under the skin and onto the breast meat. Place aromatics and 10 of the herb sprigs in the cavity. Tuck the wing tips under the turkey. Tie the legs together with kitchen string. Add 3 cups water and the remaining 10 herb sprigs to the pan.
- Roast the turkey until the skin is golden brown, 45 minutes. Remove the turkey from the oven. If using a remote digital thermometer, insert it into the deepest part of the thigh, close to the joint. Cover the breast with a double layer of foil, cutting as necessary to conform to the breast. Reduce oven temperature to 350° and continue roasting for 11/4 to 13/4 hours more. If the pan dries out, tilt the turkey to let juices run out of the cavity into the pan and add 1 cup water. The turkey is done when the thermometer (or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone) registers 165°F.
- Transfer the turkey to a serving platter and cover with foil. Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes. Remove string and carve.
Recipe Nutrition:
Per serving (without skin): 155 calories; 5 g fat (1 g saturated fat, 2g mono unsaturated fat); 63 mg cholesterol; 0 g carbohydrates; 25 g protein; 0 g fiber; 175 mg sodium; 258 mg potassium
Exchanges: 3 1/2 lean meat
Carbohydrate Servings: 0
Recipe Categories:
- Course(s)
- Dinner
- Cuisine(s)
- American
- Degree of Difficulty
- Easy
- Special Health Consideration(s)
- Low Calorie
- Low Carb
- Low Sat Fat
- Low Sodium
- Heart Healthy
- Healthy Weight
- Seasons & Occassions
- Spring
- Fall
- Winter
- Christmas
- Easter
- New Year's
- Thanksgiving
- Entertainment
- Main Ingredient(s)
-
- Poultry
- Turkey
- Technique(s)
- Roast
- Dish Type(s)
- Main Dish
Recipe Disclaimer(s):
Scaling Disclaimer: EatingWell recipes are tested extensively in the EatingWell Test Kitchen. Eating Well cannot guarantee a recipe that has been scaled to make a different number of servings from the original. Also note that scaling only applies to the ingredient measurements: no adjustment is made to the recipe instructions, so pan sizes and cooking times and ingredient amounts referred to in the text of the recipe only apply to the original number of servings.
Gluten-Free Disclaimer: We have verified that these recipes do not include the following gluten-containing ingredients: wheat (all varieties, including spelt and kamut, wheat germ or bran and other forms of wheat protein), rye, barley (in all forms, including malt, malt flavoring, malt vinegar and malt extract), oats, triticale or beer/ale. However, many processed foods, such as broths, soy sauce and other condiments, may contain hidden sources of gluten. If a recipe calls for a packaged (e.g., canned) ingredient, we recommend that you carefully read the label to be sure it does not contain a hidden source of gluten.
